December is often painted as the most wonderful time of the year — twinkling lights, mugs of hot chocolate, and festive celebrations filling the calendar. But for many employees (and especially for small business owners), December can also feel like the most pressured time of the year. End-of-year deadlines, financial strain, family obligations, weather changes, and mounting workplace fatigue can all collide at once.
This combination creates what many small business teams experience annually: the holiday dip — a drop in energy, productivity, and overall wellness as the year comes to a close.
As an HR partner supporting small businesses across the Okanagan and beyond, I’ve seen firsthand how December can quietly wear down even the strongest teams. The good news? With the right leadership approaches and a little intentional care, this season can become an opportunity to support your people in meaningful ways — and build better culture heading into the new year.
Why December Is a High-Stress Month for Employees
While December brings joy, it also brings a busy set of challenges that affect workplace performance and wellness:
1. Year-End Workload Pressure
Whether your business is wrapping up year-end projects, rushing to meet sales targets, or preparing annual reporting, December comes with a natural crunch. Many employees feel compelled to “push through,” often ignoring early signs of burnout.
2. Financial Stress Peaks
Holiday spending, travel, food, and gift-giving can add financial strain. According to numerous workplace wellness studies, financial stress is one of the strongest predictors of reduced job performance and increased absenteeism — and December amplifies this.
3. Emotional and Social Burdens
Not everyone experiences the holidays the same way. Family tension, loneliness, grief, or seasonal affective symptoms can all impact someone’s ability to stay focused or energized at work.
4. Winter Wellness Challenges
Cold and flu season, shorter days, less sunlight, and reduced physical activity play a major role in mood and resilience. These seasonal shifts can lead to lower motivation and higher fatigue.
For a small business with a tight-knit team, even one person struggling can be felt across the entire workplace.
How the Holiday Dip Impacts Small Businesses
Large organizations often have buffer — more staff, more flexibility, and established wellness programs. Small businesses don’t always have that luxury. When December stress hits, it can lead to:
- Higher absenteeism
- Increased mistakes and miscommunication
- Lower engagement and morale
- Strain on customer service
- Conflict or frustration between team members
- Reduced productivity heading into Q1
And perhaps most importantly — the holiday dip can influence retention. Employees tend to evaluate their job satisfaction most critically at two points during the year: summer and year-end. If December feels stressful or unsupported, they may start the new year looking elsewhere.
Small Business Leaders Can Change the Story
The good news is that supporting your team through December does not require a complicated wellness program or a large budget. Intentional small actions can dramatically shift the tone of the workplace — and help your team finish the year in a healthier headspace.
Here are effective, practical ways small business owners can support their employees this holiday season:
1. Prioritize Human-Centered Communication
Ask your team how they’re doing — and actually listen. December is a time for check-ins, not checklists.
- “How’s your workload feeling this month?”
- “Is there anything I can take off your plate?”
- “Do you need schedule flexibility during the holidays?”
Leaders who check in consistently build trust, psychological safety, and loyalty.
2. Manage Expectations Clearly
Unclear December expectations can create avoidable stress.
Communicate early about:
- holiday hours
- deadlines
- time-off approvals
- what actually needs to be completed before year-end
- what can wait for January
A surprising amount of stress can be avoided by simply clarifying that not everything is urgent.
3. Offer Flexible Options When Possible
If your business allows it, consider:
- shortened hours on slower days
- hybrid/remote options
- adjusted start times
- longer lunch breaks
These small accommodations can significantly reduce stress and improve morale, especially during a season packed with personal responsibilities.
4. Make Space for Meaningful Appreciation
Genuine gratitude — not generic group praise — goes a long way in December.
Try:
- handwritten thank-you cards
- personalized notes
- highlighting specific actions you’re grateful for
- quick shoutouts in team meetings
Employees remember how you made them feel at the end of the year.
5. Support Seasonal Wellness (Without Breaking the Budget)
This is where small, thoughtful wellness gestures can make a tangible difference.
Your team may be navigating cold/flu season, fatigue, and stress all at once. Offering something practical — like a wellness kit, resources, or a restful moment — helps show that you see them as whole humans, not just workers.
This is exactly why I created the Stay Well Collective: a small-business-friendly wellness kit designed to support employees during seasons of stress. With simple, calming items like wellness oils, relaxation tools, and grounding reminders, these kits encourage employees to slow down and take care of themselves during the busiest time of the year.
Small gesture, big impact.
And often, that’s all a team needs in December.
December Can Be a Catalyst for Better Culture
When small business owners support wellness intentionally during December, something powerful happens: employees feel seen, valued, and respected. This builds stronger team relationships, healthier workplace culture, and better engagement heading into a new year.
The holiday dip is real — but it’s preventable.
With a little care, a touch of flexibility, and meaningful wellness support, you can help your team finish strong and step into January feeling replenished instead of drained.
And if you’re looking for a simple, thoughtful way to support your employees’ wellness this season, the Stay Well Collective kits are available this month — designed with small businesses in mind.
A healthier December starts with a leader who cares.
And your team will feel the difference.
As always, with love,
